Army Department July 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is proposing to amend its regulations to establish a restricted area in the waters of Puget Sound adjacent to the Manchester Fuel Depot near Manchester, Kitsap County, Washington. The Corps is also proposing to amend the existing regulations that established the restricted areas in the waters of Sinclair Inlet, Puget Sound adjacent to Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton, Kitsap County, Washington. The proposed amendments will enable the affected units of the United States military to enhance safety and security around active military establishments. The regulations are necessary to safeguard military vessels and United States government facilities from sabotage and other subversive acts, accidents, or incidents of similar nature. The regulations are also necessary to protect the public from potentially hazardous conditions that may exist as a result of military use of the area.

The Corps of Engineers is proposing to establish a restricted area within Kuluk Bay, Adak, Alaska. The purpose of this restricted area is to ensure the security and safety of the Sea Based Radar, its crew, and other vessels transiting the area. The proposed restricted area is within an established moorage restriction area for the U.S. Navy. The restricted area will be marked on navigation charts as a restricted area to insure security and safety for the public.

The notice of an intent to grant an exclusive license for U.S. Patent application 11/229,425, filed September 16, 2005 entitled ``Artillery Rocket Trajectory Correction Kit'' was originally published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2007 (72 FR 39801). The following information was published in error: ``In accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i), announcement is made of the intent to grant an exclusive, royalty-bearing, revocable license within the geographic area of the United States of America and its territories and possessions to U.S. Patent application * * *.'' The following information is the correction; In accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7(b)(12)(i), announcement is made of the intent to grant an exclusive, royalty-bearing, revocable license for all the geographic area excluding the United States of America and its territories and possessions for any patents or patent applications claiming priority to U.S. Patent application.

This action removes 32 CFR part 650, Environmental Protection and Enhancement, published in the Federal Register, December 29, 1977 (42 FR 65026). The rule is being removed because it is now obsolete and does not affect the general public.

The Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) published in the Federal Register on Friday, May 18, 2007 (72 FR 28032), required comments be submitted on or before July 2, 2007. An editorial correction of the Notice document was published in the Federal Register on Thursday, June 2, 2007 (72 FR 31660). The comment period has been extended to September 4, 2007. Additionally, the June 5, 2007, Public Hearing on the proposed project has been rescheduled to August 9, 2007, at the Bauer Community Center, 2300 North Highway 35, Port Lavaca, TX 77979. Poster presentations will be available for viewing and project team members will be present to discuss the DEIS at a Workshop that will precede the Public Hearing. The Workshop will be conducted from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and the formal Public Hearing will comment at 7 p.m.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is proposing to establish ten restricted areas at Naval Support Activity (NSA), Panama City (PC), Florida. NSA, Panama City, and its major tenant command, the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), have been recognized as one of the lead research, development, test and evaluation laboratories of the U.S. Navy. In addition, the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) relocated from the Washington Navy Yard to NSA PC and now hosts a consolidated training for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, the Navy's satellite dive schools, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force. As such, a large majority of military dive training is now concentrated at NSA, PC. The proposed restricted areas in Panama City waters meet strict military training parameters that cannot be duplicated elsewhere. Military training in and around St. Andrews Bay has existed in harmony with local boat traffic and development since 1945. NSA, PC requests to formalize these ongoing activities within the waters of St. Andrews Bay in efforts to maximize public safety and to preserve current military training vital to the Global War on Terror and to all service military readiness.

In accordance with 37 CFR 404.6 and 404.7, announcement is made of the availability for licensing of the invention set forth in U.S. Patent No. 7,016,292 entitled ``Geometry for Optical Data Storage,'' issued on March 21, 2006. The United States Government, as represented by the Secretary of the Army, has rights in this invention.

This notice of availability announces the public release of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) to evaluate construction of authorized improvements to the Federal Pascagoula Harbor Navigation Project in Jackson County, MS. The Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published in the Federal Register, June 14, 2006, (71 FR 34320) a Notice of Intent to Prepare a DSEIS to address the potential impacts associated with construction of authorized improvements to the Federal Pascagoula Harbor Navigation Project in Jackson County, MS. The DSIES was used as a basis to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and for evaluating the following two alternative plans: ``No Action'' and deepening the federally authorized project from 38 feet to 42 feet deep in the Upper Pascagoula channel, deepening the Horn Island Impoundment Basin from 44 feet to 56 feet, and widening the Gulf Entrance Channel from 450 feet to 550 feet wide. Pascagoula Harbor is authorized to (a) An entrance channel 44 deep and 550 feet wide from the Gulf of Mexico to Horn Island Pass, a channel 44 feet deep and 600 feet wide through Horn Island Pass, including a sediment trap situated on the east side of the channel 1,500 feet long, 56 feet deep, and 175 feet wide; (b) A channel 42 feet deep and 350 feet wide in Mississippi Sound and the Pascagoula River to the railroad bridge at Pascagoula, including a turning basin 2,000 feet long and 950 feet wide (including the channel area) on the west side of the river below the railroad bridge; (c) A channel 42 feet deep throughout and 350 feet wide from the ship channel in Mississippi Sound to the 1,150-foot turning basin at the mouth of Bayou Casotte, then 350 feet wide for about one mile to the northern turning basin, 900 feet wide and 1,750 feet long; (d) A channel 22 feet deep and 150 feet wide up Pascagoula River from the railroad bridge to the mouth of Escatawpa River (Dog River), thence up the Escatawpa River to the Highway 613 Bridge; (e) A channel 12 feet deep and 125 feet wide from the Highway 613 Bridge, via Robertson and Bounds Lakes to mile 6.0 on the Escatawpa River; and (f) A channel 12 feet deep by 80 feet extending from deep water in the Pascagoula River to a turning basin in Krebs Lake a distance of about 1,500 feet, then along the south bank of the lake a channel 10 feet deep and 60 feet wide, terminating at a second turning basin, a distance of 2,700 feet from the first. The tentatively recommended alternative includes construction of the authorized project dimensions.

The Department of the Army announces the availability of the FEIS that evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with realignment actions directed by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), has prepared a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project (Atlantic Coast Project) evaluating new borrow sources to provide sand for routine periodic beach nourishment of Ocean City, MD for the years 2010-2044. Existing borrow sources in state waters are anticipated to be exhausted in about 2010. Between 6,800,000 and 15,000,000 cubic yards of sand would be needed through 2044, depending on future storm frequency and intensity. Three offshore shoals in Federal waters are proposed as sand sources: Weaver, Isle of Wight, and ``A.'' Sand may also be dredged from Shoal ``B,'' also known as Bass Grounds or First Lump, in the future, but only if its value as a fishing ground declines substantially. Guidelines to minimize long-term impacts to the offshore shoals were formulated in coordination with resource agency personnel and academic experts. Dredging would be conducted in accordance with these guidelines. Specific dredging plans would be developed in coordination with resource agencies prior to each beach nourishment cycle. We are making the Draft SEIS available to the public for a 45-day review and comment period.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended), the Sunshine in the Government Act of 1976 (U.S.C. 552b, as amended) and 41 Code of the Federal Regulations (CFR 102-3. 140 through 160), the Department of the Army announces the following committee meeting: Name of Committee: Army Science Board (ASB). Date(s) of Meeting: July 18-19, 2007. Time(s) of Meeting: 0800-1700, July 18, 2007. 0800-1500, July 19, 2007. Place of Meeting: Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center, 100 Academy Drive, Irvine CA 92617.